Adaptive Light-Shielding Wall for Circadian Rhythm Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-shielding devices cannot effectively control the visibility of objects based on biological information or external information, failing to make an object invisible when intended and visible when needed.
Innovation Solution
A light-shielding device with a wall partitioning two spaces, featuring regions that can switch between transmitting and light-shielding states, controlled by biological and external information to manage visibility based on user data such as sleep state, orientation, and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a light-shielding device is designed to block all light, then visibility of objects on the other side is completely prevented, but natural lighting and circadian rhythm regulation are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding wall is divided into multiple independently controllable regions (first region, second region, third region) that can be controlled to different transmittance levels. This segmentation allows selective light blocking in specific areas while maintaining natural lighting in other areas, resolving the contradiction between complete privacy protection and natural lighting needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding wall transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can change its light-shielding properties in real-time based on user needs, time of day, and environmental conditions. The control unit dynamically adjusts the transmittance of different regions, enabling the wall to adapt between complete light blocking and natural lighting transmission as required.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the light-shielding wall blocks all light, then privacy is maximized, but the user cannot perceive external environmental conditions through light
Solution Approach 1:
The wall is segmented into multiple regions with different control characteristics. The first region can be controlled to a first transmittance level for privacy, while the second region can be controlled to a second transmittance level to allow external light perception. This segmentation enables simultaneous privacy protection and environmental awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light-shielding wall are assigned different light-shielding characteristics and control strategies. Some regions prioritize privacy protection with higher light blocking, while other regions prioritize environmental perception with higher light transmission. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between privacy and environmental awareness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device uses complex control systems to manage visibility, then adaptability to biological information is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it receives biological information from the biological information acquisition unit, processes this information, determines appropriate transmittance levels for different regions, and controls the light-shielding wall. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby managing complexity while achieving high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously acquiring biological information about the user's sleep state and using this feedback to dynamically adjust the light-shielding wall's transmittance. The control unit processes real-time biological data and automatically modifies the wall's properties, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to user needs without requiring complex manual intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables objects to be made invisible or visible in correspondence with biological and external information, enhancing user experience by controlling light transmission for comfort and awareness.
Implementation Method 1
a light-shielding wall (11) that partitions a first space and a second space and includes a plurality of regions (21) capable of being controlled to a transmitting state in which light is transmitted or a light-shielding state in which light is shielded
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to a light-shielding device and a light-shielding method which make an object that is meant to be invisible to human beings enter a state in which the object is hidden so as to be invisible to eyes, or make an object that is meant to be visible enter a state in which the object is visible to eyes in correspondence with biological information. A light-shielding wall, which partitions two spaces and includes a plurality of panels capable of being controlled to a transmitting state in which light is transmitted or a light-shielding state in which light is shielded, is used as a window, an orientation of a face of a user who is sleeping is detected as biological information, and the light-shielding wall is controlled so that the user is capable of visually recognizing light when it reaches an alarm setting time.